Wednesday, October 10, 2007

I arrived home from work at aroun 6:15, Chuck was making the girls dinner so I changed my clothes and went outside to feed all the animals. My two bucks were fighting so bad that one of the bucks had bloody horns. The problem is they are horny(it is breeding season)....one so much that he is in a frenzy about it. I hadn't put them in with the girls yet because our fencing was all messed up from some work we had done. My dear husband finished the pen I needed yesterday, so I spent the evening sorting goats (which is no easy task). One goes in where you want it, two come out. The dogs think they are helping but they just get in the way. After about an hour of back and forths, chasing and enticing with treats I finally got the two bucks each in their own feild with their selected harem of girls, and the goat kids are in their own pen with my babysitter goat Ozzy. Hopefully now that the boys can get lucky they will settle down. Chuck even offered to set up some Barry White mood music for them.

Needless to say I didn't get my run in tonight, but I did get plenty of exercise chasing goats. The bright side is I should be able to put in a morning run, maybe I will go up around the reservoir.

And Chuck, I did do a sink full of dishes tonight and I folded and put away three baskets of laundry.....I counted how many dresses Delaney and Charlotte have - 22! I may have missed a few, and that doesn't count their skirts. This is mainly because Delaney went through a phase this summer where she refused to wear pants or shorts - because "real girls wear dresses." That is Delaney logic for you. At least they can share the dresses since they are close to the same size. It is probably good that they have so many dresses since Charlotte changes her clothes three to four times a day. They still love to play in mud, climb trees and our dirt hill with the goats in their dresses though, just love my girls.

I guess I am stuck this week to running at night on my treadmill. I ran 3 miles last night watching the tail end of NCIS, and the beginning of The Unit. I really don't like that show, but I didn't want to stop running to change the channel. I just don't enjoy shows about war, blowing up things, etc. - or maybe it is the name "The Unit" so phallic, I just can't get past that. But overall it was a good short run, I had a good pace and no pain in my knee or shins.

Part of my problem this week is I am trying to work two jobs. I started my new job on yesterday but I haven't had the guts to give notice at my old job. They are both part-time, but I really need those days off to keep my house running smooth. Things will be a little hectic the next couple weeks.

I will be doing five miles tonight on the treadmill - hopefully there is something good on TV, or I might be stuck watching Barbie again if my girls join me.

Monday, October 8, 2007

I'm really not very good at writing these blogs.....although I love to read other people's blogs, I just don't have the discipline to sit down and write my thoughts or days activities. Or maybe it is just that I lack the time. Right now I have a sink full of dishes and a pile of laundry I should be attending to, but I really don't feel like it.

But I have been inspired by others to start tracking my running achievements, and post my goals for all to see so I can't back out too easy - and maybe I will stay more focused on my training. I just completed my first half marathon last weekend in Lake Tahoe, CA and it was tough for me. Mostly the elevation, I am pretty close to sea level and Lake Tahoe is 6,300 to 6,800 feet elevation (and I did climb that hill in my run too). Needless to say my lungs were struggling for air up there, but it was also a breathtaking view the whole run. The race was also super organized and the staff great - I would highly recommend this run or any of the other runs that they hold in their week of running and sporting events. Their website is www.laketahoemarathon.com. I believe next year the events will be held the week of September 24 - 28.

It has taken me a good week to get my shins back to normal after dealing with the steep hills, and now I will be doing a 10K next weekend here in my home town of Loomis, CA. This is the first year they are having the "Mandarun" which will snake through several of the mandarin orchards that are fairly prevalent here. It should be fun, and it benefits our local schools. I'm excited to see how I will do with my time after all the training I did for the half.

My big goal now is to train for a marathon next March in Napa. I turn 40 in January, so I guess this is my midlife crisis - I figure getting in shape is not a bad crisis to have - and trust me, my butt and thighs needed it. I picked this course because it is suppose to be relatively flat and I figure I will be pushing myself enough just doing a marathon, I don't need a big hill to climb too.

I do have a lot on my plate though, so squeezing in my runs will be tough. Three daughters (14, 4 and 3), three dogs, 15 goats, 6 chickens and of course my husband (he will probably read something into the fact that he is last on the list, but he isn't last in my heart).

Today was a rest day for me, I ran 3.5 miles yesterday on my treadmill watching Barbie's Island Princess with my two little ones. Yes, I have to be creative to get my runs in.